Books, authors and all things bookish

The indie press sale for a cause

December 11, 2009 | 2:39
pm

Small Beer Press, founded by author Kelly Link ("Magic for Beginners") and husband Gavin Grant, is having a holiday sale of all titles and donating $1 from each discounted book to the Franciscan Hospital for Children. This morning, Kelly was on the radio in Boston to help with an on-air fundraiser.

On their website, Grant explains why they're making the effort for hospital: It's because of their daughter, Ursula, who was born nearly four months early in February. After the ICU, surgeries and a couple of other hospitals, Ursula landed at Franciscan this summer, and is expected to check out in the spring.

Life has been hectic, and at times quite difficult, but everyone says being a parent is like that. Ursula is an absolute joy & a delight -- and also the reason that we won’t be traveling for a while! Her lung condition, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, means that for the next few years we’ll need to keep her away from people during the flu season, and we’re investing big in Purell. The trach means she can’t speak, but she is fluent in kicking and smiling. She’s nine months old now, but only about five months old “corrected,” referring to her original due date, which is how you are supposed to think of a premature baby, in terms of weight, development, etc. She’s 13 and a half pounds, and by the time she is two or three years old, the damaged areas of her lungs will be small enough in proportion to the areas of healthy lung tissue that she shouldn’t need either supplementary oxygen or her trach. We’re learning a lot about babies, respiratory care, and how awesome nurses, doctors, and respiratory therapists are. At every hospital we’ve been to, we meet cool people because of Ursula.

Other independent presses are also having sales: McSweeney's has bundled books for discount, and Dzanc Books is offering some titles for 50% off. But neither of those sales includes cute baby photos.